Automotive X-Prize recommends EPA adopt MGEe rating

Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Contests, Government/Legal, Green, Chevrolet, GM

Click above to view high-res gallery of the 2011 Chevy Volt

Now that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has an agreement with General Motors regarding how to measure the fuel mileage of the 2011 Chevy Volt, our attention turns to the EPA, which now has to decide what official mileage rating will appear on the new car's window sticker and how to determine what that number will be. The first recommendation comes from the Automotive X-Prize, the foundation of which will award $10 million from Progressive Insurance to the winner of its competition to design a production-viable car that people would want to drive that gets 100 MPGe or more.

What's with that little 'e' after the familiar miles per gallon? Basically, the X-Prize crew wants to convert all units of energy to a figure that's equivalent to the power from a gallon of gas. That way, a car's powerplant - regardless of where it gets that energy from - earns a rating that can be easily compared with everything else. So, EPA, the ball's in your court... still.

Psst - GM, maybe you should enter the Volt in the X-Prize competition. Just a thought.

Gallery: 2011 Chevy Volt - Live Reveal

[Source: Automotive X-Prize via AutoblogGreen]

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Toyota's New Year's Resolution: sell 9.85 million cars in 2008

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Green, Toyota

If it were poker, Toyota would have looked at GM, pushed all its chips into the pot and said, "You know what that means." The other marque in the battle for worldwide supremacy has raised its projection for 2008 sales by 5-percent over this year, expecting to sell 9.85 million cars around the world on production of 9.95 million cars. This year, 2007, GM is estimated to have sold 9.3 million cars, compared to Toyota's estimated sales of 9.36 million.

Even with quite a few analysts and outlets predicting fewer vehicle sales in the US next year, Toyota is predicting a 1-percent increase in sales to 2.64 million units. The bulk of the sales growth will, as with every other global player, comes largely from emerging markets: China, Russia, India, and South America. This, of course, means Toyota will be leaning on its smaller models and hybrids to lead the way.

There's no way GM has given up the fight, having held the #1 spot for 76 years, and still holding the record for most cars sold: 9.55 million in 1978. You can be sure they don't want to give up both top slots in one year. To do so, they'll need to deliver on the design, the efficiency, the reliability and promises they've been making to the public for a while. As Big John McCarthy says at the beginning of an Ultimate Fighting match, "Let's get it on!"

[Source: Detroit News]

 

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2008 Red Bull Air Race World Series - Smoke On

2008 Red Bull Air Race World Series - Smoke OnFrom San Diego to Stockholm and eight other stops along the way, the Red Bull Air Race World Series, sponsored in part by Audi, is an extreme aviation spectacle like no other. Pilots pull up to 10g with unprecedented skill and precision in their high-performance Zivko Edge 540 race planes.Think of Formula One, only in the air. Hamilton and Raikkonen have nothing on these throttle jockeys who navigate a series of obstacles known as "air gates" at 250 mph within only a few feet above the ground (or water, as with the case at San Diego Bay). Pilots push the planes and their own physical limits as they race against the clock. When it comes to any type of sport aviation or extreme motorsport, there's really nothing like it. More than 100,000 fans flooded both sides of the shoreline throughout the two-day round, which consists of a pre-qualifying day before pairing off in the finals.The fierce competition between British pilot Paul Bonhomme and American pilot Mike Mangold came to a head as Bonhomme claimed his second win of the series with a time of 1:18.01 to Mangold's 1:19.24."I'm very pleased to take the win, said Bonhomme, who also won the San Diego round last year. "It's a challenging track here in San Diego. You have to be consistent in every session all the time. Today we saw some tight flying, and I had to work very hard to get this spot."As part of a special encore performance, Red Bull's B0-105 CBS helicopter thrilled onlookers with aerobatic stunts never thought possible of a helicopter, including 360-degree loops, barrel rolls and other unimaginable maneuvers previously reserved only for fixed-wing aircraft. It's something you have to see to believe and even then it's hard to comprehend. Chopper pilot Charles Aaron is the only guy licensed in the United States by the Federal Aviation Administration to perform aerobatics in a helicopter, and its classifications as an experimental aircraft authorizes him to push the envelope.Red Bull began the event in 2003 and marketed it as the most sensational air race competition ever presented. They couldn't be closer to the truth. The 2008 Red Bull Air Race World Series, presented by Audi and Breitling, moves on to Detroit before heading overseas to a series of exotic stops including Rotterdam and Budapest, before concluding in Perth. Photo Gallery: 2008 Red Bull Air Race World Series - Zivko Edge 540 - European Car MagazineRead More | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

Automakers losing interest in performance hybrids

Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Honda, Toyota

Well, that was short-lived. According to an article in the Freep, automakers are already beginning to disregard the idea of a hot hybrid, despite the benefits in fuel economy, emissions and performance.

The lackluster sales of the Honda Accord Hybrid, which was quasi-marketed as a pseudo-sports sedan, proved that the combination of "performance" and "hybrid" is too much of a stretch for the majority of consumers. While the Priusification of the species continues, with Honda confirming that it will be developing a direct competitor to Toyota's rolling fromage, it's worth mentioning that Toyota's own SARD racing team took the Tokachi 24-hour race this past July in a hybrid-equipped Supra. Not to mention ToMoCo's recent concepts, particularly the FT-HS, that sports a 3.5-liter V6 mounted to its Hybrid Synergy Drive system.

As Sam mentioned in his post over at AutoblogGreen, back in April, the SAE World Congress discussed the viability of performance hybrids, so the idea is still alive and well in the consciousness of the engineering community. Whether we'll see these performance-oriented offerings come to fruition is open to debate.

[Source: Detroit Free Press via AutoblogGreen]

 

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2009 MINI Cooper Convertible photos hit the web

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Convertibles, Economy, MINI

Click above for a gallery of the 2009 MINI Cooper Convertible

MotoringFile, ground zero on the web for all things MINI, has the scoop on the long-awaited 2009 MINI Cooper Convertible. Someone slipped MF seven official shots of the Detroit-bound R57 Cooper ragtop along with some additional inside information. Obviously, it's based on the current chassis and powertrains, so you know what you're going to get there. Additionally, the JCW package is supposedly going to be available at launch as well.

One of the most obvious visual changes in the new convertible is the use of pop-up roll hoops instead of the fixed units featured on the old car. This, in addition to looking cleaner, should improve rearward visibility with the top down. Speaking of the top being down, the new car includes a cutesy little gimmick called the 'Always Open" gauge. Located next to the tach housing, it tells the driver the percentage of miles driven with the top open. Look also for new paint and top colors outside, plus a new black chrome interior trim package inside. MotoringFile says we'll see the car in showrooms come Spring 2009. Look for more info on the new MINI convertible as we get closer to the Detroit Auto Show. In the meantime, hit up MotoringFile for their full preview report. Thanks to Gabriel for the heads-up.

Gallery: 2009 MINI Cooper Convertible

[Source: MotoringFile]

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2011 Chevy Volt one step closer to being rated at 100+ mpg

Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Chevrolet, GM

Click above to view high-res gallery of the 2011 Chevy Volt

According to General Motors E-Flex spokesman Rob Peterson, the automaker has reached an agreement with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) that would see the 2011 Chevy Volt get a unique classification different from other current hybrids. This new classification takes into account the fact that the Volt's 40-mile battery range allows it to complete the bulk of the emissions and economy test procedure without ever running the engine, which would likely give it a mpg rating of 100 mpg or better.

This is problematic for the EPA, which considers dual-power vehicles like the series hybrid Volt no different than a parallel hybrid like the Prius. Currently the EPA is expecting the Volt to complete the test cycle with a charged battery, which means the engine would have to run a lot more and essentially kill the charge sustaining control plan. According to Peterson, GM is still a long way from reaching an agreement with the feds on how to test the Volt, despite what the Detroit Free Press says. However, having CARB consider the Volt essentially an electric car is certainly a bargaining chip in GM's favor.

Gallery: 2011 Chevy Volt - Live Reveal

[Source: The Detroit Free Press, AutoblogGreen]

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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Chevrolet, GM

Click above for high-res gallery of 2011 Chevy Volt

Inside Line kicked up a dust storm yesterday by claiming that the 2011 Chevy Volt could not recharge its batteries while driving using its on-board, range-extending 1.4L gas engine. 40 miles of electric-only drive was it, and then the battery packs become "400 pounds of uselessness" was what IL said. They got this impression from a press release issued when the production Volt was unveiled to the public, which stated that the gas engine could only "sustain" the battery pack's charge and not increase it. GM got its communications crossed and apparently confirmed IL's take, but has thought about it some more and today reconfirmed what we initially thought was true, that the Volt's gas engine can recharge its batteries while underway.

What the Volt's gas engine can't do is completely recharge the battery pack to its full capacity. Rather, when load conditions are light the gas engine will send surplus electrons to the battery pack, which will also be receiving extra charge from regenerative braking, as well. That sounds about right to us, as we've always been told that constantly charging a battery to its maximum will shorten its life, as the optimum charge range is usually between 20 and 80 percent, not completely drained and not completely charged. GM is determining right now just how much it wants to let the gas engine charge the Volt's battery pack, but rest comfortably knowing that your future Volt won't be carrying around 400 lbs. of uselessness when the charge runs out.

Gallery: 2011 Chevy Volt

[Source: Inside Line]

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Filed under: Economy, Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Paris Motor Show, Crossovers/CUVs, Hyundai

Click above for more shots of Hyundai's Paris 2008 Lineup

Hyundai is headed to the Paris Motor Show with a bevy of environmentally friendly models and concepts. In addition to bringing along production-intent vehicles like the new i20, Genesis Coupe and Genesis sedan, the automaker will showcase two new concepts that will also carry its blue theme. Remember, blue is the new green. Anyway, the i20 blue features aero tweaks and low rolling-resistance tires in order to improve its efficiency, but it's the Santa Fe hybrid that's a bit more interesting. That new model features an electric motor that puts out 30kW of power along with a 2.4-liter four cylinder engine. Both powerplants feed their power through a six-speed automatic transmission with revised gear ratios optimized for fuel savings. A 270V lithium-polymer battery pack sends the juice to the electric motor, and it all adds up to 38 mpg in the U.S. and carbon emissions of 148 g/km. We'll be in Paris to see these things up close and personal, so stay tuned.

Gallery: Hyundai's Paris 2008 Line

[Source: Carscoop]

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Man buys new truck with only pocket change

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Dodge

Paul Brant, 70, bought his last new truck 13 years ago. Ever since then he's been saving up for his next new one, which he bought Friday with $26,670 in rolled quarters and dollar coins. Clinton County Indiana Sheriff's deputies escorted Brant to Mike Raisor Dodge where the estimated half a ton of rolled coins was traded for a 2008 half-ton 4X4 Dodge Ram.

One of the dealer's sales reps, Keith Gephart, said they appreciated Brant's patronage, but all those coins presented a problem. "No bank wants to take them," Gephart told "The Times" newspaper in Frankfort, Ind. "We've got a Loomis armored car coming."

Brant, 70, says he is as thrifty as his father was, who, Brant says, used to take his family on vacation with the change he'd saved up.

By the way, when Brant bought his previous Dodge truck in 1994, he paid for the whole thing with all the quarters he'd saved up over 23 years. And with the nickels, dimes and pennies, he bought his wife a new Dodge Neon.

[Sources: "The (Frankfort) Times," and "The (Lafayette, Ind.) Journal and Courier"]

 

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(Or why I want to buy this 1980 Talbot-Matra Murena.)

(Or why I want to buy this 1980 Talbot-Matra Murena.)Lord knows I’ve been tempted to buy a project car from eBay Motors a time or two, but never have I been so inclined to hit that little “Buy It Now” button than I have with this: a beautiful 1980 Talbot-Matra Murena.  Sacre bleu… Sam Smith’s not in the office this week, but I already hear him launching into a tirade about my love for odd French marques.  Certainly, that may be part of the appeal, but the mini Matra’s got a lot more going for it than simply its obscurity (10,680 examples were built between 1980 and 1983). First, it’s actually (somewhat) attractive, what with some curved lines, raked roofline and flying buttresses.  In many ways, it actually previews what Pontiac did with the second-generation Fiero.  In fact, the Murena is much like the Fiero in its construction â€Â" it too sports a steel spaceframe with fiberglass body panels, albeit it did so four years before Pontiac tried it. There are plenty of good ol’ French quirks inside to keep me amused.  Matra made sure to use an oblong steering wheel with a single spoke (á la Citroen), while controls are arranged in pods surrounding the instrument cluster. And how could you ever discount the three-abreast seating?  I know of no other sports cars with a trio of bucket seats other than a McLaren F1 â€Â" and it’s a reasonable bet I’ll never be able to afford one of those beauties, let alone get to ride in, drive, or touch one. But perhaps my biggest joy would come from arguing my way into local Mopar meets.  Yes, Talbot was owned by Peugeot, but the brand was simply a new name for Simca as it changed hands from Chrysler to PSA.  Although the Murena launched just after the sale was complete, the majority of engineering occurred just before the sale, meaning some of the Chrysler folks were certainly involved with its creation.  Chrysler Europe loaned the car a 1.6-liter four-banger (also found in the Dodge Omni) and a five-speed stick for powertrain.  That combo won’t scorch the earth, but it will zip around with ease while reportedly returning fuel economy figures up to 30 mpg. Sporty looks, go-cart handling, good fuel economy â€Â" sounds like a winner.  Only I just don’t have the cash to pick it up.  Quelle dommage... Source: eBay MotorsRead More | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

Champ Car Sells CART Goodies

Champ Car Sells CART GoodiesI never watched CART races in the early 1990s - but I did adore the series' pace cars.  Built in collaboration with paint experts PPG, the cars often sported fancy paint, custom body work - or even a combination of the two.  They were neat, yes; but looking like afterthoughts of the 1980s, they were often forgotten.Fast forward to 2008:  CART has since morphed into the beleaguered Champ Car series, and - following a bankruptcy declaration in March and an upcoming merger with IRL - the series decided to pawn most of its assets on June 6th.  Surprisingly, this included the famed pace vehicles. I'm not fond of the neon pink -on- Petty Blue Chrysler LeBaron, but many of the other rides up for grabs were rather interesting.  The neon-green hue of the '92 Dodge Stealth may not have been attractive, but the custom body kit and strobe lighting across its rear fascia certainly serve as conversation points.  So too do the custom bodywork on a pair of '82 Chevy Camaros.  One of those cars is a near-lookalike to a concept that GM still owns. My personal favorite is the 1988 GMC Sierra.  More than just an everyday C/K pickup, this truck sports a 415 cubic-inch V-8 that's good for nearly 450 hp.  If that weren't enough, the rear of the cab was sliced open to accommodate a pair of rear-facing bucket seats,  a la Subaru Brat.  The auctioneers say there's " other like it," and I'm fairly certain I can take them at their word. But even some of the later Champ Car pace cars - like a MazdaSpeed 6 or the kitted-out 2006 Ford Mustang GT/CS - would have been good rides.  I was enthused to see not one but three 1998 Ford Contour SVTs up for grabs, all sporting 17-inch BBS alloys, upgraded Brembo brake systems, and incredibly low miles.  I'd have sprung for the gold car; although it had a few more miles on the clock (9000 versus 7500), it also sported a full roll cage, four-point harnesses up front, and adjustable Koni shocks at all four corners. I'm still awaiting the official results from the sale, but I'm hearing some people may have walked away with some bargains.  Reportedly, the '88 Buick Reatta pace car (with 12,000 miles) went for $7500 - not unreasonable for a stock Reatta in such condition, but a good buy for one with CART provenance. Source: Gallivan AuctioneersRead More | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

The gauntlet is thrown: VW Jetta TDI vs. Toyota Prius

Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Sedans/Saloons, Green, Toyota, Volkswagen

Clean diesel or hybrid drive? It's an intriguing question, and one that's not quite so easy to answer. There's the price of diesel fuel to consider, which runs a few dimes over that of regular gasoline. Then there is fuel mileage. Does the Volkswagen Jetta TDI have a shot at dethroning the Toyota Prius as the undisputed mileage champion of the U.S.? To get a preliminary answer to some of these questions, Popular Mechanics put almost 500 miles on both cars, dividing up their miles between the city and the highway. It's not a knock-out for either car, but it may offer some early answers to a few questions.

First, the mileage. In the city, there's just no beating a hybrid, which uses its electric motor to good effect and scores over ten mpg better in the stop-and-go traffic of Los Angeles. On the highway, though, the Jetta TDI is able to eke out a narrow victory, scoring less than one mile per gallon better. Once the price of crude is factored in, the Prius remains the overall cheaper car to keep filled up. Of course, there is more to the story than that, including which car is a better to drive -- according to PM, the Jetta. Finally, the TDI qualifies for a $1,300 tax credit that the Prius can't claim. It's too close to call. Expect a rematch soon enough.

Read our First Drive of the 2009 VW Jetta TDI and full review of the Toyota Prius to see what we think.

[Source: Popular Mechanics]

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Le Mans, Part 5 (the long day is over!)

Le Mans, Part 5 (the long day is over!) The checkered flag has fallen at Le Mans, and the Audi R10 TDI is the victor for the third straight year, this time thanks to the driving skills of Dindo Capello, Tom Kristensen, and Allan McNish.The Number 2 Audi was able to hold off the faster competition from Peugeot largely because of the Audi's superior fuel mileage; over the course of the exciting twenty-four-hour event, Peugeot's top car made three more pit stops than did the winning Audi (which for the first time burned a special mixture of biodiesel fuel made through a process called Biomass-to-Liquids). With just over an hour left in the race, it looked as though the Number 7 Peugeot might run down the leading Audi, after the French entry shaved the Audi's lead to less than two minutes. However, rain returned to Sarthe shortly thereafter, and Peugeot was no longer able to turn quick enough lap times to make up the difference. The final margin of victory was about four-and-a-half minutes In a remarkable testament to the durability and strength of the diesel-powered prototypes from both Audi and Peugeot, all six of the companies' entries swept the top-six positions, with Audi notching first, fourth, and sixth. This race marked my first time at Le Mans, but it's plainly obvious that the 24 Hours of Le Mans should be at or near the top of every race fan's gotta-see-it-before-I-die list. The drama of big-time endurance racing at a classic European track is a great way to feed your inner Andretti. Also, don't forget to watch automobilemag.com for a high-res wallpaper photo gallery from Le Mans very soon. More photos of the action today: A bit of sleep makes Audi guests better-prepared for the afternoon's champagne-soaked victory celebration. Cars sprayed rooster tails of water high in the air when the rain returned to Le Mans. After taking the checkers, Audi driver Tom Kristensen cruises past pit road and an Audi hospitality area. The victory marked the Danish driver's eighth victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It also marked Audi's ninth consecutive overall win (if you count the Bentley that won in 2003). Just finishing the grueling daylong race at Le Mans is reason to celebrate. Even though the top Corvette finished second in the GT class behind Aston Martin, enthused supporters crowded pit road to wave Old Glory at the end of the race. The mob assembles near the winners' circle, post-race. And they can't wait for next year's 24 Heures du Mans.Read More | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

Chrysler LLC debuts Dodge EV, Jeep EV and Chrysler EV

Chrysler LLC debuts Dodge EV, Jeep EV and Chrysler EV

Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Chrysler, LLC., Dodge, Jeep

Click above for high-res gallery of Chrysler's three new EVs

As we learned this morning from Bob Nardelli's appearance on CNBC, Chrysler LLC is getting into the electric vehicle game and plans to have something on the market by the end of 2010 - the same time GM plans to start selling the 2011 Chevy Volt. The vehicle in question will be one of these three EVs, all of which are powered fully or in part by electrons.

The first and perhaps most exciting is the Dodge EV, which is an all-electric sports car like the Tesla Roadster. In fact, Chrysler seems to have taken a few pages from Tesla's playbook, which is evident by the fact that its EV is wearing the body of a Lotus Europa at the moment. Lotus also worked with Tesla on the development of its Roadster and is probably offering its expertise in electronics and lightweight vehicle design to any automaker willing to pay for it.

Chrysler says the Dodge EV uses a 200kW or 268 equivalent horsepower electric motor mated to an "advanced lithium-ion battery pack and an integrated power control module". Peak torque is 480 lb-ft, which helps propel the lightweight Europ... Dodge EV to 60 mph in less than five seconds and a 120 mph top speed. Its range is pegged at between 150 to 200 miles with recharge times of 8 hours for 110-volt outlets and four hours using a 220-volt.

Gallery: Chrysler EVs

Continue reading Chrysler LLC debuts Dodge EV, Jeep EV and Chrysler EV

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iDrive X5

iDrive X5Sometimes simpler is better. But in BMW’s attempt to simplify the technology in the iDrive they have made it more difficult. Replacing numerous buttons with one large one has made accessing CD or radio and volume control a multi-step process.One of my buddies set out to buy a new car to replace his aging B6 A4 sedan. Though he wanted to maintain his Audi love and loyalty, he was disappointed after trips to the dealership where he found no Audi to suit his needs, i.e. an A5 with a 4 cylinder  2.0T. He ended buying a new 2008 BMW X5 and the selling point, besides the killer lease deal and build quality, was the near endless list of technological do-hickeys and feature gadgets for the price. After he purchased the X5 he promptly came over to my house for the ceremonial car show-off. It was in the driveway that we underwent a long debate regarding Audi vs. BMW. One of his arguments was the technology that BMW had and he was keen on showing me all the bell s and whistles. Fast forward one month. I then drive my Audi over to his house where he is washing his X5 in the driveway. Besides the normal complaints of how washing an SUV is a lot harder than a sedan, he happens to mention that he is getting carpal tunnel syndrome from simply trying to adjust the bass in his sound system using the iDrive button (think Nintendo Contra cheat code â€" up-up-down-down-left-right-left-right). Though turning the iDrive wheel is smooth, it requires so much force just to push it left or right, up or down or in. His long-winded list of technological goodies has turned into a long list of annoyances which he therein dissects from actual, theoretical and philosophical points of view. My journalist mind automatically thinks headline: “When iDrive Drives You Crazy.” Some are slightly insignificant such as no visual volume indicator which he likens to “like you don’t want to be bothered with information” to the more significant of the motorized steering wheel. Every time you enter or exit the vehicle the steering wheel moves out of the way â€" not a good idea when you are trying to use the wheel to get in and out of the car, plus an added worry of what will happen when those gears get old and sticky. He tried to look in the telephone book sized manual to find a way to turn off the steering wheel adjustment with no avail. Don’t get me wrong...I love technology and some is welcomed like Bluetooth and navigation. But when too much is crammed into one vehicle it can become a hindrance rather than helpful. And when it takes four steps to achieve the same goal as one button would have done the job it becomes a distraction. BMW’s touch sensitive programmable buttons that when you glide over them they tell you what they are, are not a solution to alleviate the problem. Since there is no CD button, my friend programmed the CD change function to one of the programmable buttons. Upon pushing the programmed button the screen will go to CD then unexpectedly revert to another screen, like trip computer. Then to get back to the CD screen you have to go through the iDrive’s multi-step process. Even the programmable steering wheel buttons to scroll through media types don’t solve the problem. “I don’t want to have to scroll through 5 options when I can just push the CD button on any other car” my friend says. He did give kudos to BMW since they were kind enough to put an AM/FM button on the dash...I guess the radio people won the vote at that meeting. My friend remains optimistic, however, that in the new generation iDrive there is a CD button. The concept of technology might be better than in practice. The iDrive is great... for rarely used features, but for features that are used often, the simple push of a button is best. Call me old-fashioned but it’s worked for the last fifty years and if it ain’t broke why fix it?Read More | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

Paris Preview: BMW 7 Series ActiveHybrid

Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Sedans/Saloons, Green, Paris Motor Show, BMW

Click above for high-res shots of the BMW 7 Series ActiveHybrid

With the arrival of the BMW 7 Series ActiveHybrid, which will make its initial debut at the Paris Motor Show, both BMW and Mercedes-Benz are set to enter the luxury hybrid market that has so far only seen action in the form of the Lexus LS600h. Although BMW was one of the brands that helped develop the sophisticated Two-Mode hybrid system that's currently being used in the full-size 'utes from both GM and Chrysler, the Bavarian automaker has chosen instead to equip its 7 Series with the same mild hybrid architecture that it helped to develop and is used by cross-country rival Daimler. Like the S400 BlueHYBRID, a 120-volt lithium ion battery will be kept underhood along with a small helper motor that's hooked up to the engine, in the case of the BMW, a twin-turbocharged, direct injected 4.4-liter V8. Expect well over 400-horsepower from the gas/electric combo along with combined fuel mileage in the low 20's.

Gallery: BMW 7 Series ActiveHybrid

[Source: AutoblogGreen]

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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Paris Motor Show

Click above for hi-res gallery of the Pininfarina Sintesi

Italian carrozzeria Pininfarina and French battery manufacturer Bollore have been hard at work developing a new plug-in electric car to bring to market, and reports now indicate that their joint venture will be unveiled next week at the Paris motor show.

Rather than designing the vehicle - which could borrow some themes from the Sintesi concept unveiled this past March at the Geneva Motor Show - for an established automaker, as Pininfarina has done for decades, the new electric car will be sold under their own name. The source of power in the new green creation will be a bank of lithium metal polymer batteries, and is the result of a 150 million euro joint venture between the two firms. It is expected to become available in Europe, Japan and even here in the good old US of A by late 2010, starting with an initial run of 2000 vehicles. In 2011, that number is targeted to increase to 8000 units, 11,000 in 2012 and 15,000 in subsequent years. Those are some ambitious but reasonably staggered targets for the upstart initiative, and we'll be on hand next week to bring you the latest from its unveiling.

[Source: Automotive News Europe - subs. req'd]

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GM's new ad campaigns focus on small cars, SUVs

Filed under: Car Buying, Marketing/Advertising, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM, Saturn

With oil hitting $100 per barrel and customers clamoring for more fuel-efficient vehicles, GM is dropping coin to showcase its smaller transportation. Now is a good time for the General to tout its lighter fare, as the Detroit automaker has some real winners in its stable. The new Chevy Malibu and Cadillac CTS have received critical praise from the automotive press, and early sales receipts show that both vehicles are a hit with the public as well. In fact, GM is looking to increase Malibu production in a soft market due to brisk demand at Chevy dealers around the country. Saturn will also receive ad dollars, as newer products like the Vue could use a boost, and the hot new Astra will benefit from a coming out party.

GM is also concentrating more of its cash on web advertising, and it will also pony up ad dollars to tout Chevrolet as its environmentally friendly brand. While automotive enthusiasts know GM has come up with a string of solid vehicles, the general public may not be as informed. Nothing spreads the word quite like money.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

 

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Get ready to vent: Lorinser kits the new SL

Get ready to vent: Lorinser kits the new SL

Filed under: Tuners, Convertibles, Sports/GTs, Euro, Mercedes-Benz

Click above for a hi-res gallery of the new Lorinser SL kit

With the arrival of the new Mercedes-Benz SL, it's time for all the usual suspects to update their body and tuning packages accordingly. Observers familiar with Lorinser's stuff know what to expect here, and in typical fashion, there's enough mesh grillework to allow for every conceivable cooling need, real or imagined. A large vertical vent replaces the "gills" that are standard on the current SL's front fender. There's also an opening in the side skirts ahead of the rear wheel, and a wide grille spanning the area between the exhausts, too. The whole affair sits on a lowered suspension, and big Lorinser alloys fill up the wheel wells. Power upgrades aren't ready yet, so for the time being, the kit's an all-show, same-go proposition. Image-conscious buyers will want to keep their original tri-star grille emblem handy, as that much plainer Lorinder badge isn't going to impress the neighbors nearly as much.

Gallery: Lorinser Mercedes-Benz SL

[Source: Lorinser]

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